Name: Red Velvet Brownies for Sweet Easy Recipes Fans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tbsp red food coloring; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 3/4 cup all-purpose flour; For the cream cheese swirl:; 4 oz cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 egg yolk; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

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I’ve baked a lot in my life, but red velvet brownies? Oh, these are different. They don’t ask for attention—they grab it. Deep red, ridiculously fudgy, and topped with a swirl of tangy cream cheese that makes them almost too pretty to eat. Almost. This recipe came from one of those afternoons where all I wanted was chocolate, but my pantry said: ‘how about a challenge?’ So here we are—with cocoa, color, and just enough flair to feel like you made something fancy… without it being hard. Honestly, if you can stir, you can do this. Whether you’re baking for a birthday, a potluck, or just a Tuesday that needs cheering up, these brownies deliver. Sweet? Yep. Moist? Hugely. A little bit over the top? That’s kind of the point. Let’s bake something wildly good, shall we?

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Red Velvet Brownies Recipe
3) Ingredients for Red Velvet Brownies
4) How to Make Red Velvet Brownies
5) Tips for Making Red Velvet Brownies
6) Making Red Velvet Brownies Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Red Velvet Brownies
8) Try these Desserts next!
9) Red Velvet Brownies Recipe
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

These red velvet brownies come together in about 40 minutes from start to finish. They’re soft, rich, and have just the right amount of tangy cream cheese swirl to keep you coming back for more.

You only need a handful of pantry staples, plus some red food coloring and cream cheese. No fancy mixers or obscure ingredients—just stir, bake, and enjoy.

They store well in the fridge and freeze like a dream. That is, if they make it that long. Honestly, I’ve never had leftovers last past day two.

2) Easy Red Velvet Brownies Recipe

Every now and then, I crave something sweet easy recipes were made for. You know the type. No mixers, no stress, just pure indulgence. That’s where these red velvet brownies shine. You whisk, you swirl, you bake. Simple.

There’s something fun about swirling cream cheese into red batter. It feels like finger painting for adults, but with dessert as the reward. I mean, who said baking couldn’t be playtime?

This easy dessert recipe proves that you don’t need a culinary degree to whip up something that looks and tastes like it came from a bakery window.

3) Ingredients for Red Velvet Brownies

Unsalted Butter: Start with melted butter. It adds richness and helps that chewy brownie texture we all love.

Granulated Sugar: Regular white sugar works perfectly here. It sweetens the batter and balances out the cocoa.

Eggs: You’ll need two. They bind the batter and give the brownies structure, with a soft interior.

Red Food Coloring: This is what gives these brownies their signature red hue. A tablespoon goes a long way.

Vanilla Extract: Two teaspoons help round out the flavor. It’s a small detail, but it matters.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Just a quarter cup. Enough to give you that red velvet vibe without turning it into full-blown chocolate cake.

Salt: Half a teaspoon, to balance the sweetness.

All-Purpose Flour: A scant three-quarters of a cup. Don’t overmix it. You want tender, not tough.

Cream Cheese: Softened and swirled in for that perfect tangy contrast. The rich swirl is worth every calorie.

Egg Yolk: One yolk for the swirl. Adds creaminess without thinning it out.

Granulated Sugar (again): Just a quarter cup for the cream cheese mixture.

Vanilla Extract (again): Just half a teaspoon this time, in the swirl. It pulls everything together.

4) How to Make Red Velvet Brownies

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper. This makes for an easy cleanup and helps lift the brownies out when they’re done. No scraping required!

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your melted butter and sugar until smooth. Add in your eggs, food coloring, and vanilla extract. Stir until everything blends into a rich, ruby red batter.

Step 3: Sift in your cocoa powder, salt, and flour. Stir gently until just combined. No need to overdo it. You want fudgy brownies, not rubbery ones.

Step 4: Pour that glorious batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top. It should already smell amazing.

Step 5: In a small bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until creamy. Drop spoonfuls on top of the brownie batter. Take a butter knife and swirl it all around for that signature marbled look.

Step 6: Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. A toothpick should come out with a few moist crumbs—not totally clean. That’s your cue to cool them completely.

Step 7: Once cooled, slice and serve. Or, let’s be honest, grab one straight from the pan. I won’t tell.

5) Tips for Making Red Velvet Brownies

Use gel food coloring if possible. It gives a richer red without thinning your batter. I’ve tried both, and gel always wins the beauty contest.

Don’t overmix once the flour’s in. Brownies don’t like that. Keep it simple, keep it tender.

If your cream cheese isn’t soft enough, microwave it in short bursts. Just don’t let it melt—warm and pliable is what we’re after.

Swirl gently. You’re making art here, not soup. Too much swirling and you’ll lose the contrast that makes these look so striking.

Make these sweet easy recipes your go-to treat for birthdays, holidays, or Tuesday nights when chocolate calls and you must answer.

6) Making Red Velvet Brownies Ahead of Time

You can definitely make these a day ahead. Just bake, cool, then cover tightly. The cream cheese swirl actually develops more flavor overnight. It’s like brownie magic while you sleep.

Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. They’ll stay soft and fudgy for days.

Need them for a party? Bake them the night before and don’t cut until right before serving. They’ll look bakery-fresh and no one will guess you didn’t bake them that morning.

I love that these sweet easy recipes double as both casual and occasion-worthy. They’re as welcome on a paper plate as they are on a dessert platter.

7) Storing Leftover Red Velvet Brownies

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep for up to five days, but mine never make it past day three. It’s the cream cheese—just too tempting.

Want to freeze them? Go ahead. Wrap individual squares in plastic and stash in a freezer bag. They’ll last up to two months and taste just as good once thawed.

Microwave for about 10 seconds before eating if you want that just-baked gooeyness. Trust me, you do.

This is where those air fryer cookies easy recipes can’t compete—red velvet brownies store better and reheat like a dream.

8) Try these Desserts next!

9) Red Velvet Brownies Recipe